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Summer 2013 Conemaugh Rivers to Form the Conemaugh River

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Summer 2013 Conemaugh Rivers to Form the Conemaugh River Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project Make Use of Our Rivers Treatment Plant Helps to Give a New Look to the Point Volume XX The Point in Johnstown Number 3 The confluence of the Stonycreek (left) and Little Summer 2013 Conemaugh Rivers to form the Conemaugh River. Save the Date: Sept. 13– SCRIP board meeting, Greenhouse Park, 9am Sept. 19– Ohio River Watershed Cruise, Pittsburgh Oct. 12- CVC’s West Penn Trail Triathlon (See article on page 2) Oct. 18– SCRIP board meeting, Gander Mountain, Photo by L. Lichvar The Rosebud treatment Photo by M . Reckner 9 am 2010 Aug. 21, 2013 plant in St. Michael Little Conemaugh River at went online in early In this Issue: Mineral Point before the August releasing 10,000 CVC’s West Penn treatment plant went online. GPM of treated water Trail Triathlon 2 into the Little Cone- Donation to SCRIP 2 maugh River and help- ing to give the Cone- Paddle the Que 3 maugh River, into Que Fish Habitat 3,5 which it flows, a much better appearance as North Fork shown by the pictures Little Conemaugh at Mineral Point Watershed Study 4-5 after Rosebud active treatment above taken at The plant in St. Michael went online. Stress Response on Point in 2010 and Remediation Ponds August 21, 2013. Research 5 Both before and after pictures are courtesy (Continued on page 2) of Pennsylvania Department of Environ- People of SCRIP 6 mental Protection. Rosebud Treatment Plant West Penn Triathlon Set for October 12 by Melissa Reckner (continued from page one) The Conemaugh Valley The treatment plant at St. Michael is Conservancy is organizing located upstream from Mineral Point the West Penn Trail Triath- where the second set of pictures was lon, which will take place Sat- taken showing a marked difference be- urday, October 12 in Salts- fore and after the plant went online. burg. This triathlon will incorporate features and attributes of the Conemaugh River Corridor and the West Penn Trail system! Instead of a Seeing these pictures was a cause for swimming section, there will be a boat leg for participants to use a kayak joy among those who have been work- or canoe to accompany the running and biking. Teams of up to three ing tirelessly to restore our watershed. may register. There are a number of age brackets, so you can compete The Little Conemaugh River with its with your peers. All profits will be used for the betterment of our trail history of industrial pollution and network. For more details and to sign up visit the CVC website: many discharge points has been an www.conemaughvalleyconservancy.org; click Recreation at the top; and especially difficult one to restore. then click West Penn Trail Triathlon on the left side. We realize that things could change Donation Made to SCRIP with fluctuating stream conditions and The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ligonier Valley, through its Beulah many other discharges need to be Rosen Committee, made a donation to SCRIP’s Community Fund for the addressed but this is a great step for- Alleghenies account. The committee was named in honor of Beulah who had ward. Congratulations to all those who a passion for social justice and the environment and bequeathed a substantial made this happen! sum to the fellowship. The committee was established to continue the legacy of Beulah and other benefactors by donating to worthy organizations. Ads Accepted for SCRIP newsletter Black and White Print Sizes and Prices 1/8 page—$30 1/4 page—$50 1/2 page—$70 Full page—$100 10% Discount to local non-profits For full set of ad guidelines email: [email protected] Page 2 Paddle the Que Event Takes Place on July 31 by Len Lichvar, SCRIP Chairman Photo by Len Lichvar Participants were able to try out their new skills on the flat For the water of the Quemahoning Reservoir. The program took second place on the evening of July 31 at the Quemahoning Fam- year the ily Recreation Area through the cooperation of the Cam- SCRIP bria-Somerset Authority. sponsored "Paddle A thank you to the SCRIP Board members who attended the Que” and assisted as well as to Karlice Makuchan who handled educational program was a success. This year 62 par- all the registrations. Also SCRIP appreciates the support ticipants of all ages took advantage of the instruction of the Benscreek Canoe Club members who assisted provided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commis- with on the water safety as well as the Somerset Daily sion's educational staff to learn how to safely paddle American and the Johnstown Tribune Democrat for their and operate canoes and kayaks. cooperation in promoting the event. Fish Habitat Structures Earl and Michele Placed at the Que by Len Lichvar Waddell guide "Big" Ken Dranzik as he loads The long term Somerset Conserva- a fish habitat structure tion District’s Quemahoning Reser- onto a PA Fish and Boat voir Fish Habitat Improvement Pro- Commission boat for ject continued with a structure build- transport to its intended ing and placement at the Quemahon- location in the Quema- ing Family Recreation Area. This honing Reservoir. latest project saw the addition of 20 Photo by Len Lichvar short vertical plank structures added to the dozens of similar habitat struc- The angling opportunities at the as to increase locations for aquatic tures that have been placed in the reservoir have gradually been on the insects to thrive and provide addi- reservoir since the District originated upswing thanks in large part to the tional habitat for fish of all age the project in 2006. improving water quality coming into classes. the reservoir by way of abandoned The structures are professionally de- mine drainage (AMD) treatment The PFBC continues to monitor the signed and the construction process systems in the Quemahoning Creek impacts of the structures. Local an- is coordinated by the Pennsylvania watershed designed, administered glers have also been doing their own Fish and Boat Commission’s Habitat and funded by public sector agen- appraisals as well. Brian Wingard, of Management Division Lake Section. cies such as the District and many Holsopple, who has fished the reser- Volunteers from the District, Moun- others. voir for decades for many species re- tain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlim- lates that, “The addition of the habitat ited and the Somerset County The habitat structures have built structures are making a difference. Sportsmen’s League along with other upon that opportunity by providing For example, I know from my catch local sportsmen provided the labor a safe haven for young small fish to rates that the smallmouth bass popu- and the Cambria –Somerset Author- escape predatory larger fish as well lation in the reservoir is certainly ex- ity (CSA) provided their equipment panding which is something that was for use. not happening prior to the habitat project.” (continued on page 5) Page 3 Study of North Fork Watershed, Somerset’s Smallest But Perhaps Most Unique Watershed, is Underway by Len Lichvar The Somerset Conservation District is such as abandoned mine drainage (AMD) currently embarking on an analysis and pollution. So far the North Fork has es- study of one of Somerset County’s small- caped these impediments. est, but perhaps most unique watersheds. The District received a Coldwater Heri- Shustrick tage grant to create a Coldwater Conser- A primary reason the North Fork watershed vation Plan for the North Fork of Bens is less impaired is that about three quarters claims, “The Creek watershed located along the west- of the watershed is owned by the Greater ern slope of the Laurel Ridge in northern Johnstown Water Authority (GJWA) and North Fork Somerset County. the remainder is either PA Game Commis- sion State Game Lands or part of Laurel watershed is a The North Fork and its even smaller Ridge State Park. tributaries have been mostly unencum- bered by man’s negative impacts unlike real life example the downstream waters that the North With that in mind the District is working on Fork is a tributary of, such as the main the project in cooperation with the GJWA, of how man’s stem of Bens Creek and the Stonycreek Mountain Laurel Chapter of Trout Unlim- River. ited and state agencies such as the Depart- needs and uses ment of Conservation and Natural Re- According to Greg Shustrick, Watershed sources and the PA Fish and Boat Commis- can coexist Specialist for the District, “The North sion. Fork is one of our near natural waters. The project will include analysis of not only All the smaller tributaries are designated the current status of the watershed, but po- with nature as Exceptional Value by the PA Depart- ment of Environmental Protection and tential threats such as water use and con- without either the tributaries as well as the North Fork sumption, thermal impacts, nutrient loading contain a highly diverse macroinverte- as well as natural gas extraction in the com- detracting brate community as well as populations of ing years. wild trout.” Although downstream waters such as the from the other.” Stonycreek River have received much atten- Unlike other waterways in the region that tion, improvement and acclaim in recent have fluctuating water quality and fish and years, the best water quality in the region is insect life, the North Fork has maintained found in the headwater streams such as the its high level of all of these water quality North Fork. As Shustrick points out, “The indicators over a long period of time. North Fork provides us a measure as to The North Fork’s sister stream, the how far our downstream resources have to South Fork of Bens Creek, starts out very still improve to reach their true potential.” much the same with good populations of (continued on page 5) aquatic insects and wild trout.
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